I know a 90 year old beekeeper that used a soup can to hold his smoker fuel. He found a can that would fit down in the smoker, cut the top and bottom off, placed the fuel in the can, lit one end, and stuck it in the smoker lit end down. I like the idea. It helps prevent burning your hands and the area around the can or between the can and smoker wall allows the fuel some ventilation. This helps prevent the fuel from smothering out!
Believe it or not Charcoal. I start the charcoal outside the smoker, and then blow the coals to red hot. It doesn't matter what I pack in on top of it.
Everybody has a favorite smoker fuel, and it's a pretty popular topic among beekeepers....What's your favorite?